RESEARCH
What Is the Evidence to Support the Use of Therapeutic Gardens for the Elderly?
Summary
The study explores how therapeutic gardens and horticultural therapy can improve the well-being of elderly individuals, particularly those in long-term care, assisted living, and dementia units. Evidence suggests that access to natural settings can help reduce pain perception, alleviate stress, improve attention and memory, and enhance overall quality of life. Additionally, exposure to gardens has been associated with decreased agitation, lower use of psychotropic medications, and a reduction in falls among dementia patients.
Despite these promising findings, the review notes a lack of rigorous, controlled clinical trials to quantify the effects of therapeutic gardens. The authors advocate for more structured research to establish standardized measures of efficacy and to integrate garden-based interventions into geriatric care practices. As aging populations grow worldwide, the study emphasizes the need for cost-effective, non-pharmacological strategies, such as therapeutic gardening, to enhance elderly care and improve long-term health outcomes.
